Casing-drilling machine



NDV, 27, 1928.

M. N. YOUNG ET AL GASING DHILLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l NN. YOUN6` D. C P T 7550A( 744:7 aw ATTORNEY.

Nov.I 27, 1928. f

M. N, YouNG E1' AL CASING DRILLING MACHINE med ongle, 192e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTORS MN. YOU/V6 D. C PA T TESO/V z ATTORNEY. I

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT ori-icasv l MAYNARD N. YOUNG, 0F HEALDSBURG, AND DONALD C. PATTESON, OF GEYSERVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

GASING-DRILLING MACHINE.

Application led October 16, 1926. Serial No. 141,913.

The present invention relates to drilling machines, and more particularly to an apparatus for perforating by drilling an oil well casing while the same is in the hole.

In deep wells wherein the casing is set, it is the present practice in providing openings in its wall to admit the oil or gases to enter the casing, to employ a` slitting machine which cuts elongated slots in the casing wall.`

The action ot such apparatus is such that larger areas of the casing than desired are often broken through due to the operators inability to control the vertical movement of the slitting mechanism within the casing. Such damage admits foreign matter such as oil and gas sand to collect within the casing, which results in endless trouble and necessitates frequent cleaning of the well incurring great expense in the operation of the Well, and oi'ten resulting in the total vloss of the same through what is commonly termed sanding up.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide an apparatus for-insertion to the desired position into the set casing of a. well and for operation to actuate one or more drill bits at the desired speed of rotation and advancement to neatly and accurately drill the desired apertures in the casing, and to withdraw the bits from the drill holes to clear the burr from the wall thereof.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for accomplishing the above operations which will come to a point of rest after each operating cycle as above described, enabling the apparatus to be raised or lowered within the casing to `another point for a separate drilling operation.

Another and important object is to provide an electrically operated apparatus designed to accomplish the above results, and wherein the operating motor is in close proximity to the drill mechanism and is sealed tooperate under pressure whereby hydrostatic pressure within the casing is exerted from the working elements of the apparatus, and the same are maintained free of grit and external moisture.

The invention consists in its broadest embodiment of a partition shell containing an operating motor, connected throughreduction drive mechanism with one or more drill bits simultaneously rotatable thereby and lineally movable radially through the shell during their rotation, there being provided means for arresting the operation of the motor on the drill bits arriving at their point of retraction, and there being provided a means for actuating the motor to operate the apparatus to impart a complete cycle of movement to the drill bits after they have completed the previous cycle of operation and have arrived at a point of rest.

Vith the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view on line 3--3 of Fig, 1 illustrating the drill bits in their retracted position. n

Fig. 4 is a similar view on line 4.-4 of Fig. 1 illustrating the bearing for the cam ring.

Fig. 5 is a `transverse sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 1 illustrating the motor control switch mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of one of the drill bits, its mounting, and its interengagement with the cam for imparting lineal movement thereto.

Fig.' 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit with the switch in running position and the parts in a position immediately prior to the circuit being interrupted on the completing of the operating cycle of the drill bits.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 illustrating in dotted lines the switch in starting position, and the parts in position to complete the motor circuit on the movement of the. switch to starting position.

ln the drawings, wherein like characters ot' reference designate corresponding parts, 1 indicates the conventional tubular well casing. Adapted for insertion into the well casing, preferably with its surface in sliding contact therewith is a tubular cylindrical shell 2 closed at itsl ends as at 3, and 4, the upper end 3 carrying an attaching eye .5 with which is adapted to connect any suitable ysuspension device. The lower end 4 of the shell 2 is preferably of conical formation. Disposed transversely within the shell 2 at spaced points throughout its length are the peripheral ianged partition wall members 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The partition member 6 forms with the upper wall 3 a motor chamber 11 within the upper end of the casing, and within this motor chamber is mounted a suitable electric motor 12, the armature shaft 13 of which is disposed concentrically within theY shell 2, its ends being supported in bearings 14 and its lower end extending through the stuffing box 15 in the partition wall 6 and carrying on its terminus a. suitable gear 16. The gear 16 has driving connection with a counter shaft 17 through a gear 18 and the shaft in turn has driving connection through intermeshing gears 19 with the shaft 20. The counter shaft 17 is rotatably mounted in a bearing `bracket 21 positioned within thev chamber 22 formed by the partition walls 6 and 7. The shaft 2O rotates/in bearings in the respective walls 7 and 8 with its lowered end extending below the main body of the wall 8 and carrying on its end a beveled gear 23. Depending from the underside of the wall 8 are bearing ears 24 within which are rotatably mounted the 'main portions ot1 beveled gears 25, preferably four in number, and each intermeshing with the gear 23. Disposedradially of the shell 2 with their outer ends resting in apertures 25 in the shell wall 2,'and their inner ends in bearing openings 26 in the bevel gears 25 are suitable drill bits 27. Each bit isv provided with a keyway 28 into which extends a key 29, one of which is associated with each bevel gear 25. Within its length, at a point eX- teriorly of the outer face of the. bearing ears 24, each drillbit is provided with an annular flange 30, said flanges are adapted for cooperating with a cam groove 31 in the upper surface of a cam ringk 32 rotatably mounted on annular bearings 33 carried by the partition Wall 9. The cam ring 32 is driven by the reduction gear mechanism 34, which is actuated by a gear 35 on a shaft 36 depending from and rotated by the shaft 20. The shaft 36 operates through a stuiiing box 37 in the partition plate 10 and on its end carries a Contact disk 38 rotatable therewith, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Itvvill be observed that on each one fourth rotation of the cam ring 32. the drill bits 27 will be axially rotated, and during such axial rotation will be. projected and retracted in such manner that the desired aperture will be drilled by each in the casing 1. The reduction gear mechanism between the motor 12 and the drill bits and cam ring may be-of any desired ratio to impartithe required speed of rotation to the drills during their lineal movement.

It will also be understood that the motorV 12 comes to a point of rest each time the cam ring 32 arrives at the position illustrated in Fig. 3 with the drill bits in their retracted position. Such position admits ofthe raising and lowering oi the shell 2 within the casing l without the bits engaging in the drill apertures or contacting with the inner face of the casing 1.

`-VThe motor control mechanism illustrated iarticularly in Figs. 1, 5, 7 and 8 is constructed in the following manner A spring finger 39 frictionally bears against the periphery of the contact plate 38 and from thek finger extends a lead 40 connecting with the motor 12 and extending from the shell 3 upwardly in the casing 1 to its upper end, said lead mounting a source of power 41 and having associated with it a movable switch member 42. A second lead 43 extends from the upper end of the casing into the shell/.2 and connects with a spring finger 44 with which is adapted to engage a contact face 45 carried'by the disk38. Another lead 46 extends into the casing 1 and shell 2 terminating at its lower end in a Contact point 47, and its upper end in engaging relation with the switch 42. Tithin the shell 2 is rotatably mounted a multi-point Contact member 48 in the form' of a conventional star wheel, the points of which are adapted on the rotation of the star wheel. to engage with the contact point 47 of lead 46. A star wheel actuating` pin 49 is mounted on the disk 3S.

Referring to Fig. 7, the switch 42 is positioned in what may be termed motor opv erating position, the circuit to the motor 12 being completed through leads 40 and 46, battery 41, star wheel 48, disk 38, andvspring contact finger 39, the disk 38 travelling in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 7. The disk is geared to make one complete revolution on each quarter revolution of the cam ring 32, and in Fig. 7 the star wheel actuating pin 49 is about to impart rotation to the stai' wheel to disengage one of its points from the pin 47, thus breaking the motor operating circuit, and permitting the parts to come to a point of rest with the drill bits 27 in fullA retracted position. At the time the contact point or the star wheel 48 is disengaged from the point 47, the members 44 and 45 are in engaged position, as in Fig. 8, but the motor operating circuit is incomplete due to the switch 42 being in engaged relation with the lead 46. The drilling operation at one level in the casing 1 lhaving` been completed, and the drill bits retracted, the shell 2 is preferably raised the desired distance within the casing 1, and the switch 42 is drawn from position in full lines, Fig. 7, to dotted line Gli or starting position, 50, Fig. 8. lVhen in this latter position. the motor starting circuit is completed through leads 40 and 43 engaging contacts 44 and 45, spring Contact linger 39 and disk 3S. The starting of the motor rotates the disk 38 and by the time the member 45 has passed from beneath the contact tinger 44, breaking the starting circuit, the pin 49 will have rotated the star wheel 48 to position one of its points in engagement with the contact point 47 of lead 46. at which time the operator moves the switch 42 to motor running or operating position, illustrated in full lines Fig. 7, the motor operating through the complete circuit, Fig. 7, until such time as the motor operating circuit is broken, as previously described.

It will be apparent that the operation of the mechanism located deep in the casing 1 ispositively and accurately controlled from a point exteriorly ot the casing 1 by the simple operation of the switch 42. It will also be apparent that the motor 12 is automatically brought to a point of rest at the time the drill bits 27 are in their retracted position which will admit of the shell 2 being raised or lowered within the casing 1. The interior of the shell 2, preferably between the top wall 3 and the partition wall 10. may contain fluid, preferably a heavy lubricant or other material, to exclude thereposition,

4from the material contained within the casing and which is usually under great hydrostatic pressure at the depth where the present invention operates. Then liquid is employed, it is understood that the motor 12 is to be of a type capable of operation when entirely submerged. It will also be apparent that the apertures in the shell wall through which the ydrill bits 27 operate, and which are the only openings through which the casing contents can enter the shell, are of a size to snugly fit the periphery of the drill bit aiiording as little space as possible between the surface of the drill bit and the` wall of the opening.

1. A. drilling machine for well casings positioned within a well, comprising a shell for lowering into a casing and to be guided thereby, a drill bit carried by the shell with its end lying within the sheli wall anl capable ot lineal movement radiallyY thereof to project beyond the same and for rotation dur ing its lineal movement for penetrating the well casing, an electric motor earied by the shell, driving connections between the motor and drill bit and operated in a single direction by the motor for automatically imparting simultaneous lineal and rotative increment to the drill bit, a motor operating circuit extending exteriorly oi' the casing, and means for automatically interrupting said circuit on the drill bit completing a lineal cycle of operation with its point free of the casing wall.

2. A drilling machine for well casings positioned within a well, comprising a shell for lowering into a casing and to be guided thereby, a motor within the shell, a drill bit disposed radially within the shell for projection laterally beyond its surface and retraction therein, a'power transmission connection between the motor and drill bit for rotating the same, a cam cooperating with the drill bit for imparting lineal movement thereto during its rotation, a power transmission connection between the motor and cam, and means for automaticaly interrupting the operation of the motor on the drill bit arriving at its retracted position.

8. A drilling machine for well casings positioned within a well, comprising an elongated tubular shell closed at its ends for lowering into a casing and to be guided thereby, a 'fluid contained within the shell, a motor within the shell, a plurality of drill bits carried by the shell and disposed radially therein in a substantially horizontal plane for projection beyond the shell surface and retraction thereinto, a power transmission connection between the motor and drill bits for simultaneously rotating the same, means operated by the motor and cooperating with the drill bits for imparting lineal movement thereto during their rotation, a motor operating circuit, and means within said circuit for automatically' interrupting the same on the drill bits completing a cycle of lineal movement and arriving at a point of retraction within the shell.

4. A drilling machine for well oasings positioned within a well, comprising an elongated tubular shell closed at its ends for lowering into a casing and to be guided thereby, a fluid contained within the shell, a motor within the shell, a plurality of drill bits carried by the shell and disposed radially therein in a substantially horizontal plane for projection beyond the shell surface and retraction thereinto, a power transmission connection between the motor and drill bits for simultaneously rotating the same, means operated by the motor and cooperating with the drill bits for imparting lineal moven'ieut thereto during their rotation, a motor operating circuit, means within said circuity for automatically interrupting the same on the drill bits completing' a cycle of lineal movement and arriving at a point of retraction within the shell, and means also within the circuit and capable of automatic operation to again complete the same after its interruption.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

MAYNRD N. YOUNG. lZONLD C. PATTESON. 

